Saphris for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• that1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2014

"I have bipolar 1, general and social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. I've been on pretty much everything over the last 14 years. Seroquel worked well for over a year, but the weight gain was awful. Regular exercise and healthy eating. Lithium and Lamictal replaced the Seroquel and seemed efficient, couldn't handle the nausea anymore after 2 years. 5 weeks ago, I decided I wanted to try Saphris. My psychiatrist agreed and decided to start low and slow as I tend to have allergies or increased anxiety with most medications. I started on 2.5mg for a week. I literally felt better the next morning. I had increased energy and felt happy for the first time in over 10 years. I'm up to 5mg in the evening and 2.5mg in the morning. My anxiety decreased, and I'm down to 1.5mg of Klonopin daily from 3mg. This is a miracle for me!"

• viper...
• April 3, 2010

"I have been severely depressed for six years after coming off my medications in May 2006, due to a bad manic episode. I have tried so many medicines, even the ones that worked before. Nothing could get me out of the dark hole I was in. I went to my doctor and told him I wanted to try ECT therapy because I was suicidal. He set it up, but asked me to try a new medicine (Saphris) in the meantime. I was willing to try anything. He placed me on 5mg at night, and told me it would probably allow me to eliminate the Ambien for sleep problems. Man, did it. My wife noticed a difference in my mood the next day. I have been on it now for two weeks, and cross my fingers I have not felt this good for twelve years."

• LJ Ar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 13, 2014

"I have been on Saphris for nine months. I am taking 20 mg at night. I find the medication puts me to sleep 10-15 minutes after taking my dosage. If I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, I stumble around in a daze. After sleeping 9-10 hours, I wake up feeling refreshed. I also take Lamotrigine and Sertraline. To manage anxiety, I take Lorazepam as needed. It took me several months to see the full benefits. Today, I am under control. No suicidal thoughts. No aggressive behavior. I am no longer having the delusions that people are out to get me and/or I am being followed. Best of all the medication did not throw me into depression. I still have problems when I become overwhelmed or in a busy environment."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2010

"Been on Saphris for about two months. Taste is bad but the benefits of medicine far outweigh that. Only side effect is slight numbness in mouth after taking pill but that goes away after about 30 minutes. No other side effects. Racing thoughts, shadows, voices, have now disappeared. First time that has happened in years. Have been able to decrease dosages of other medicines and wean off some altogether. So far it has been a miracle drug for me. Feel better now than I ever have."

• Jordy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2019

"I have Bipolar 1. I am currently taking 1500mg of lithium, 300mg of lamictal, and 10mg of Saphris. Since starting Saphris my paranoia has decreased, I’m not distracted with deluded thinking. I sleep much better, have quit smoking cigarettes, and I’m exercising 4 days a week at the gym. I haven’t had any side effects. I also regularly see my psychiatrist and psychologist."

• Scorp...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2014

"I started Saphris after experiencing some episodes of violent anger as a result of mixed episodes of my bipolar disorder. There was an almost immediate lessening of symptoms, making me feel calmer right away. I have experienced almost no side effects from the medicine other than occasional sleepiness, but nothing debilitating. I had little or no weight gain, which made me very happy. It also has a lower incidence of causing cholesterol and blood sugar issues than many other AAPs. I find Saphris very helpful for both the immediate treatment of a breakthrough mixed/manic episode as well as for daily maintenance."

• bipolar
• March 10, 2015

"I take a low dose of Saphris (5 mg). My experience with this medicine is simply incredible. It makes me feel so "zen" and happy, it's a feeling difficult to describe. I used to take clonazepam, but it never made me feel that great. Another good point is that it helps going to sleep, but waking up is easy (not like Seroquel and Zyprexa!!)"

• Maya...
• July 2, 2013

"I have tried so many medications for my numerous manic episodes and nothing even came close to the benefits I have experienced with Saphris. It reduced my anxiety and agitation profoundly. I have not had another episode after being on Saphris for over six months. I have an overall sense of well being and much more functional. I've lost 50lbs after being on Zyprexa. Saphris is a wonderful medicine and has given me hope and I am slowly rebuilding my life. It might taste really bad but it is all worth it."

• Gary...
• June 17, 2013

"You have to be aware of the positives and negatives of any medicine you take. Even Tylenol. I have found that Saphris has worked pretty well despite a few side effects that I've learned to live with. My doc tried me on Latuda first because I was a bit concerned with taking something sublingually. I should have tried Saphris first. Latuda had me wanting to jump out of my skin and made me want to eat all of the time. I gained 50 pounds in the six months I was on Latuda and have lost all but 7lbs on Saphris. I don't mind the numb tongue because it goes away. I am even used to the taste now. Overall Saphris gave me my life back."

• Anonymous
• May 20, 2010

"I have been on many bipolar medicines: Lamictal, Seroquel, Geodon, lithium, and also Xanax to help me sleep. I have been on Saphris for one week and started feeling better the next day. I will admit it tastes terrible, but my doctor told me the trick is to take a sweet tart with it, and it isn't so bad. Works for me. My dosage has gone from 5mg to 10mg, but I'm getting the best sleep I've ever had, except for some strange dreams; but I can't complain. The benefits outweigh the taste and dreams any day. I highly recommend this medicine (and a sweet tart!)"

• Seismic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2019

"Yes, Saphris allowed me to finally sleep at night. But after having taken the drug for 2 or 3 years, my speech had become so distorted that I was virtually impossible to understand. Thinking that I may have had a minor stroke (I was in my early 50s at the time), I went to see a neurologist. He is the one who asked me if I were taking any antipsychotic drugs, and told me he believed that I had developed tardive dyskinesia in my tongue from the saphris. I was compulsively moving my tongue constantly within my mouth, and it had destroyed my ability to speak coherently. I immediately stopped the Saphris, then spent the next year diligently and constantly training my tongue to stay put and stay relaxed. My speech is nearly perfect again, with just a very mild lisp that no one but me can hear. But I still spend every moment of every day monitoring where my tongue is, if it’s relaxed, and making sure that it’s not moving. And I’ll be doing that every day for the rest of my life."

• sadmd
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 20, 2013

"I love this medicine. I have Bipolar 2 and post traumatic stress disorder. I have been on this medicine for 9 months. It puts me to sleep about 15 mins after taking it. I have lost 35 pounds (I had gained 50 pounds on Lamictal and Abilify) I am off the Lamictal. I have been able to stay out of the hospital. I feel better overall. I am trying taking 1 course in college and may even try to work again."

• Anon
• February 9, 2014

"Saphris is the best bi-polar medication I have taken. I sleep the best I ever had on Saphris and do not experience manic out bursts. Other bi-polar medications made me gain weight. On other medications I have gained 30 lbs in a short time frame. On Saphris, I haven't gained any weight and weigh a few pounds less than I did before I started to take Saphris."

• Happy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2018

"First things first, I love this drug! I started out on 2.5 mg and the first time I took it, I actually sat down. And I was able to sit with family and have a conversation, rather than go be in my room to talk with my fantasy world. The first problem that appeared was ankle pain. I’m still unsure if that was the medicine or I actually had injured my ankles, but it went away once I was given 5mg. This medicine makes me feel in control of my emotions, and has actually helped me to feel a bit more organized. The side effects that I have seen is mainly the drowsiness, numb tongue, and weird dreams. Like, really weird dreams. The taste is a bit nasty, but you get used to it quick. I really enjoy this drug and it’s not only me that has noticed a change. It’s my family too, they were originally a bit wary about me going on an antipsychotic, but now they’re glad I did. For me, it’s a miracle drug."

• Twigh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2014

"I had been taking Saphris 10mg at bedtime for well over a year and then suddenly stopped taking it for a month to see how I would feel. In this month I was a wreck and had racing thoughts and couldn't fall asleep until 2am and would be up 6 hours later. I also found myself fantasizing about stuff and being unrealistic about things. I started taking it again close to a month ago and I really see how much it helps me. The only downside is that I sleep over 11 hours now and I get into such a deep sleep without waking up once."

• Debmas
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2013

"I have Bipolar I with some psychotic episodes in the past. I used to be on Abilify, but I had weight gain and shaking of my hands. Saphris has been wonderful for me. I used to take Ambien because I couldn't sleep, but with Saphris I fall asleep within 10-15 minutes. I only take 5mg at night. I don't take it in the morning because of how sleepy it makes me. I've also tried 10mg at night and that worked well too. As for the flavor, I have to have the black cherry. I couldn't stand the original, mint, I think it was. I feel great and would definitely recommend it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2014

"I take 3/4 of a 5mg Saphris and 200mg Epilim which helps to take the edge off of my anxiety and depression. I felt a difference within days of taking my first dose, like I could breathe again and didn't have the weight of the world on my shoulders. What I will say though is that medication is never the complete answer. My medicines have allowed me to get to a stable enough place where I am able to deal with the underlying issues causing my depression and anxiety. Does help me feel more comfortable in my own skin."

• 9...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 13, 2018

"My son has Autism and Bi polar disorder and had intense violent rages and breakdowns almost constantly. He didn't know how to interact with peers, he saw himself as superior to all and totally disconnected from reality. He would stay awake head banging every night. He had huge bags under his eyes and we tried everything we could to get him to sleep. He never slept through the night, and when he was an infant all he did was cry. He is nine now and has been on Saphris for about a year and a half. He is a different person. He was different the first day. He is actually loving towards me and family members and at least tries to interact with other kids. It is a godsend. He now sleeps 10 hrs"

• Bipolar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2015

"I'm Bipolar 1 Rapid Cycling & also have ADD; this medication saved my life. I have been on it for a year now (along with a cocktail of others, I am BP 1, let's be realistic) titrating from 5 mg to 30 mg all at night. I was in constant mixed states, I couldn't control my impulses, my anxiety and paranoia were through the roof and I was unemployed - leaving the house, let alone working wasn't an option. I work fulltime now in a professional environment, back on my career track. My mood is stable, and for once in my 15 year diagnosis I can say I'm stable. Side effects take time to pass, and some never go away, for me, its AM daily muscle pain for 90 mins. I haven't been able to touch a drop of liquor, not even a sip of beer; I prefer sanity."

• cpas
• April 27, 2013

"I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder almost five years ago and have tried just about every medication without success. I have recently started taking Saphris and it is my miracle. My mood swings have gone and I'm no longer angry or depressed. I have plenty of energy (minus the mania) and feel a complete sense of well being. The dissolvable wafers have a very bitter taste however this is a very small price to pay considering how awesome I feel. "

• peace...
• April 10, 2013

"I just replaced my 75mg nightly Seroquel with 5mg (will probably go to 10) of Saphris. I was very scared to change. I am a successful and happy trauma nurse, mom, partner, etc., even though I do struggle with bipolar disorder and anxiety. My life has been going REALLY well for several years with low doses of Seroquel, Zoloft, and Lamictal, so when my annual spring crazies kind of snuck up on me worse than normal, I was very hesitant to rock the boat. So far this compares VERY FAVORABLY with my Seroquel. I am sleeping well and the morning fog is getting better as my body adjusts. My thinking is clearer and quieter WITHOUT feeling dumb or sad. And I don't seem to be quite as ravenously hungry as on Seroquel. Hope it lasts!"

• CattyAK
• May 4, 2013

"I've been on Saphris 20mg nightly for 2 months. I have Bipolar Rapid Cyclical with ADHD. This medication is the best. I fall asleep within 10-15 minutes. The horrible taste is a small price to pay. My mood is the most stable it's been in a long time. I'm happy about life, feeling very positive- a huge change for me!"

• sunli...
• June 3, 2010

"I have been on a truck-load of different medicines to treat Bipolar, Lamictal, Depakote, Lithium, Seroquel, Symbyax, Abilify...just to name a few. Started taking this 10mg/before bed, last week. This does taste horrible, but doesn't cause nausea and vomiting and I'm real sensitive to taste. It makes my tongue go numb for about 30 minutes and during that time I get the munchies really bad. While I'm trying not to eat the house down my mood elevates. I've been getting to sleep a lot easier and staying asleep better. As a whole, I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. Really hoping this medicine works on the long-term for me as I'm tired of trying different ones."

• gypsy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2013

"I love Saphris. Best thing that ever happened to me. No other medicine compares. Down side, it's so expensive. I get samples from my psychiatrist, but I will be moving out of state soon and I am so afraid I won't be able to afford Saphris. It's the only medicine that gave me the least amount of side effects and lets me lead a normal life."

• Stpha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2021

"Currently on 5 mg at night. Best medication so far. Have try risperidone (ptd), invega (weight gain) and latuda (bad anxiety). Only 3 lbs of weight gain...not sure if it's the pandemic or the saphris. The only "side" effect I experienced it the sedative side. It put you right to sleep in 15 minutes which I like ! I wake up after 9 hours sleep without alarm feeling refresh. It tastes bad but I really don't care for the first time of my life I feel good! You should try it"